Bloemfontein – Former and current employees of the Rosenhof Special Needs School staged a protest outside the institution, demanding the immediate removal of the principal amid accusations of nepotism, bullying, and creating a hostile working environment.
The workers allege that the principal has engaged in unfair labour practices by appointing unqualified friends and relatives to key positions, while sidelining long-serving staff. Some employees claim they have worked at the school for more than 18 years without progressing to senior roles, despite their experience and contributions.
One long-serving kitchen worker stated: “Within 18 years that I’ve been here working in the kitchen of Rosenhof, he doesn’t recognize any duty and effort that I am putting into the kitchen. Though the former principal, I’m sure I would have been senior housekeeping supervisor by now.”
A former teacher who resigned last year said she left due to mistreatment that caused her health to deteriorate. “Most of us we are admitted at Bloemfontein Hospital for most of the time… our staff is admitted there because of the conditions,” she said, adding that the stress affected her ability to perform her duties with the school’s special needs children. “I was not capable to perform my duties anymore. My work was declining because of the situation. So I decided to resign.”
During the demonstration, workers voiced frustration over what they described as a lack of leadership skills and favoritism. “She doesn’t have leadership skills… She has her favorites. She does as she likes. She abuses people. She hires only friends and relatives of hers,” one protester said.
The group handed over a memorandum listing their grievances to senior officials from the Free State Education Department. The organizer warned that if the department does not respond within seven working days, the workers plan to escalate their action by staging a strike at the department itself.
The provincial Department of Education has confirmed it is investigating the allegations. However, a spokesperson for the department emphasized that the principal cannot be removed without following proper legal procedures.
“At the core of the grievances is the removal of the principal. But remember there’s the law. This is a constitutional country and every person… we cannot just take a decision on the basis of allegations,” the spokesperson said. “The principal is employed under the Labour Relations Act. We need to follow that to the letter… set up the processes to investigate. If there’s any prima facie evidence, we can start a process of disciplinary hearing and so forth before we take a decision of removing the principal.”
The principal is currently on sick leave. The memorandum was delivered behind closed doors, and the department has reportedly promised to respond within seven working days.
The workers have vowed to continue their protest until their demands are addressed.